Money For Old Rope

On the bike again today but this time it was bloody windy. I cycled all the way to work with it against me.

At the pub over lunch I finally take the plunge and risk the Roast beef, mushroom and Stilton baguette. I’m not expecting anything to be wrong with it, it’s just that when it takes them an hour to deliver a ham sandwich I thought steak was asking for trouble.

In the end it comes punctually and very nice it was too.

Derby County are to rename Pride Park the ‘iPro Stadium’. Not that anyone knows what an iPro is. Turns out it’s nothing to do with Apple and it's a new sports drink company. That’s an already crowded market so I’m not sure they’ll see out the 10 year sponsorship deal but I guess that’s their lookout. I quite like that it’s a company nobody has ever heard of and probably never will. Money for old rope really. Nobody except the media ever use these new names anyway and there’s a simple reason why the ground is known as Pride Park because that’s where it is.

Another poor game of squash from me. During which L walks the boys home in an attempt to wear them out. One of them in particular. Last night's training seems to have had no effect on MD’s energy levels at all. He’s really got it on him at the moment. 

(Thursday 14^th November)

Altercations

MD has an altercation with the notorious black terrier this morning. We all dislike the black terrier. It had a go at me first as I cycled down the alleyway near our house. Perhaps MD knew.

L has her clinic with the injured cyclist today which simply rubber stamps her plan to stop me cycling and she pledges to take a spade to both my bikes tonight. I think I preferred yesterday’s idea of leaping on me.

As its Shrove Tuesday today I do pancakes tonight, savoury ones. I was going to shop especially for exciting ingredients but L points out that the idea of pancake night is to use up everything in the fridge. Ok, Marmalade, stilton and Thai curry sauce it is then.

Actually in the end, I dig a bit deeper and its sausage, bacon, onions, peppers, sweet potato and cheese - a Stilton and Cheddar mix. Not bad. Although my pancake making skills have gone to pot. I have not made any for years and aided by a sticky non-stick frying pan, it takes several mishaps before I get a decent one. Leaving plenty of rejects for pudding and for the dogs.

(Tuesday 12^th February)

Everyone Loves A Cheapskate?

It’s good to be back at work... at least it’s a short week. The traffic wasn’t too bad coming into work but I think this is because they’re probably all already in the queue for Sainsbury’s car park. Well that’s certainly where they all are come lunchtime and some of them have probably been there queuing since 8am. I decide not to bother joining the queue and park next door at Homebase instead, then I walk across.

Sainsbury's car park is actually half empty, it’s just the access roads that are rubbish. Inside the store it’s fairly quiet too and everything has 50% off or more. Which begs the question, why would anyone shop more than a week before Christmas? Huge blocks of Stilton - half price. Port - half price. Pate, a whole block - half price. Wrapping paper - half price. Something else that I best not mention as it's going in L's Christmas stocking - half price. Hope she loves a cheapskate

Daughter rings to say she’s been awarded a bursary. Bloody hell. How did that happen? It turns out it’s because her sixth form college in Nottingham is a ‘partnership’ college with Sheffield Hallam. Whatever that means. It’s all a bit bizarre but don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, as they say. I imagine she’s already on the bus on her way to River Island.

L’s at another panto toinight. She really is a serial offender. The dogs and I stay in to cook stilton and port pate.

(Wednesday 21st December)

A Little Bit Fit

Neither L nor I ache as much as we did after the Lakeland Dirty Double. So I guess we must be just a little bit fit.

MD enjoys this evening’s dog training so much that twice when I try to get him to go in the boot of the car after his training is complete; twice he turns heels to run back into the training arena for another crack at the equipment. I have to admire his dedication but it’s time for Doggo’s walk around the car park, then it’s time to barter with the cheese man for a slab of Stilton and then its home time.

Well after I’ve rescued L from the International Hotel where she’s talking champers and trying to negotiate the minefield that buying some is. She welcomes my advice but speaking as someone who has yet to find champagne that he likes that could be difficult. Do I recommend we go cheap on the assumption that I won’t like any of it or go expensive in the hope that you might get what you pay for? Looking at those prices... decision made. Hope her folks aren’t reading this, as it’s for their anniversary bash on Saturday.

(Monday 21st November)